Chapter Ten: Welcome to the Island
"Yo ho, yo ho, a bottle of cola for me."
"I'm beginning to see why Momo hates that bird," Appa rumbled. It had been two days since the others had made their escape. Two long, long days.
"Yes, he is a bit nonsensical, now is he?" Tanya agreed, burying her head under stubby wings.
"Gonna eat 'im iffa get de chance," hissed Tango.
"Be my guest. I'm sure Momo would love that," Appa replied.
Suddenly, from up in the crow's nest, one of the crew called, "Land-ho!"
Commotion erupted on the deck. There seemed to be pirates and zoo staff everywhere. Men jostled one another, each trying to get a better view.
"Oh, joy! Maybe when we land we'll get fed," Tanya said hopefully.
"I sure hope so," said Appa. He had had nothing to eat since the small bale of hay on his first day, and he was starving. If his friends didn't rescue him soon, he might just waste away.
Excitement continued to course throughout the boat. Even the normally dormant animals seemed active, pacing around in their cages. However, all the anticipation made the going seem even slower. Appa soon returned to napping. They'd get there when they'd get there. It's not like the island would be all that exciting anyways.
"Come on, people, my Grandmother moves faster than you!" shrieked Tanzo. The cages were finally being wheeled off the boat and onto dry land.
"Rhawrk, landlubbers are people too!" chirped Talon.
"Enough already," sighed Appa. The bird's constant blurbs were giving him a headache.
"We don't have all day. Move it!" Tanzo badgered the men; quick to ridicule anyone not moving fast enough.
Appa settled down in his cage, bored. Tango and Tanya were nice, but they just weren't the same as Momo. The bison noticed that the captain and Leizuy seemed to be having a heated argument off to the side. Curious, he focused in on what they were saying.
"…cursed. You shouldn't be stayin' here," the captain pleaded.
"Please, let's be reasonable," drawled Leizuy, "None of your silly superstitions will harm us, I assure you."
"Ya git ta listen ter me, I'm telling ye the truth," he was now begging, "It's dangerous. Nothin' but evil inhabits this island."
Leizuy paid him no heed. Instead, he turned on his heel and left, leaving the captain gawking.
As soon as the cages were unloaded they began to travel, leaving behind the ship. And once again, Appa was unwillingly harnessed to several cages, forced to drag them behind.
They traveled until the sun began to slip behind the horizon. The troupe made camp in a large clearing. Appa was returned to his cage. A fire was stoked, and, much to the animals' joy, food was tossed into the cages.
Appa wasted no time in filling his stomachs. He couldn't remember ever being this hungry. The hay was gone all too soon, and he yearned for more.
"Sir, should we proceed with the ritual?" Tanzo whispered to Leizuy. They were huddled at the edge of the clearing, obviously having a secret conversation.
"No, it can only be carried out exactly at sunset. It's too late now, those pirates put us behind schedule. Besides, we still need the fourth member."
"As you say, sir."
Appa didn't know what they were talking about, but he didn't like the sound of it. Maybe he was just being paranoid. Snorting, Appa closed his eyes. Whatever it was, it could wait 'till morning.
"Keep a firm grip on those ropes, boys."
"Tighter on the left side!"
"Get off of ME!"
Noises like that of a bar fight wafted through the trees. There wee crashes and the yells of several men. The ruckus quickly drove sleep from the camp, and noises of waking could be heard.
"Keep it down out there!" yelled a particularly gruesome snake, coiled up in his cage.
"We're trying to sleep!" came the call of another grumpy animal.
Appa yawned and blinked his eyes. "What's going on?" he mumbled.
"It sounds like a large group of peoples, coming this way," mused Tanya.
"Who? I don't recall seeing any men leave," Appa said.
A few seconds later the answer stumbled into the clearing. At least a score of men surrounded a large beast, keeping him in check with several ropes, The animal, at least seven feet long, was bucking and shouting for all it was worth.
"Let go of these ropes and let me have a fair fight, cowards!" he yelled, nostrils flaring. The thing was covered from head to toe in a thick, char-black hide. Short, thick legs and a sturdy neck meant it was built for charging, and it even had a thick layer of skin, almost a horn, adorning its nose. Out of its cheeks bulged two forward-curving horns. It had a primeval air to it, moving with surety and strength, straining against its bonds even though it couldn't hope to break free.
"Ah, the Ground Cleaver," announced Leizuy to no one in particular, "symbol of the Earth Kingdom." He stopped a safe distance from the group, a sneer brushing the corners of his mouth. "Tanzo, pay these good men for their troubles, and see to it that the beast is put in a sturdy cage."
"Yes, sir," said Tanzo.
A group of "volunteers" were assembled, and they set about trying to herd the Ground Cleaver into a cage. The task was much easier said than done. Ground Cleaver wasn't just some random name. It turned out the thing could actually cleave ground. It was an Earthbender.
Chunks of rock assaulted the men, showering them with dirt. Cages shook as a miniature earthquake rattled the clearing. Things turned into an all-out war, until several whips were brought forth, and the animal was forced into a cage.
Panting, the Ground Cleaver knocked his head against the cage in dejection. "I can't believe they got me in here," he growled.
"You sure put up a good fight," said Appa, "It was really impressive."
The beast snorted in satisfaction. Tossing his head to the side, he said, "You look like you could put up one heck of a fight yourself, chum. Say, what are you?"
"Flying Bison, Appa, and they," Appa jerked his head to the cages next to his, "are Tango and Tanya."
"Pleased to meet you," he said, "I'm Samson. Just Samson, not Sam. So, how ya reckon we get out of these cages?"
Appa sighed, and then replied dully, "If we knew, we'd tell you."
"Oh, I see," Samson said.
There was a brief moment of subdued silence, then the Ground Cleaver asked, "So, how'd all you end up here?"
"Well, it's quite a tale," replied Tanya, looking eager to tell it.
"No very happy, sad story," Tango said.
They spent the rest of the day making conversation and exchanging stories. Tanya told them how she had been the pet of a scholar, until the Fire Nation invaded and her owner had gone broke. He was forced to get rid of her, and had unwittingly sold her to Leizuy. Tango had come from a tropical island, where she had lived peacefully with her fellow lizards. Then the zoo happened to make a pit-stop on the island, and had decided to add her to their collection. Samson had been a beast-of-war, hauling supplies, and often wounded soldiers, through the mountains. Ground Cleavers were in high demand by the army for their amazing stamina and Earthbending abilities. But when the caravan was ambushed by Fire Nation soldiers, and all the Earth Kingdom warriors were executed, he was taken prisoner and shipped here.
"I'd spent my entire life, helping those men. Some of them…were like brothers to me. Huh, we couldn't even understand each other, but it didn't really matter. Sometimes, you don't need words," Samson lowered his head, eyes filled with pain, "They never even had a chance. One minute it was just another boring trip through the mountains, a Ground Cleaver and some soldiers, and the next…we were surrounded."
Appa closed his eyes in an attempt to block out the pain of Samson's story. "I'm sorry to hear that. I know how it feels, to be separated from the people you love," Appa said, thinking back to his last glimpse of Aang, disappearing over the deck.
Samson looked like he was about to say something more, but they were interrupted by Tanzo.
"Alright men, unload those animals. Careful, now, we don't want them getting away."
The doors on Appa's and Samson's cages swung open, and ropes were hung around their necks.
"What the heck! Whatta they think they're doing?" Samson growled, planting his feet on the cage floor.
The two were dragged out, (not an easy task) and pulled to the center of the clearing. A large space had been cleared, right in the middle. Grae Jumsho was also brought forth, being led by several nervous-looking men. The Water Lung wasn't resisting, but he did look rather unhappy. Then, from a fourth cage was dragged an incredibly pathetic looking beast.
At first glance it looked like a lizard, with very long arms, a knobby neck, and scaly feet. It was actually more closely related to a plucked chicken. It had fierce yellow eyes and a beak, but no feathers to speak of. Instead, it was covered in pink, fleshy skin that gleamed faintly in the setting sun, as if covered in water. A muzzle clamped its beak shut, and several chains forced it to hobble along on its talons and featherless wings.
The four animals were arranged in a circle, facing inwards. Standing in the middle was Leizuy, eyes burning with cruel laughter. Looking out at his men, he cleared his throat and spoke, "For a hundred years a war has been waging, one to decide the ruler of the Four Nations. For years, we have all been oppressed by the Fire Lord Ozai. Until today."
From the group came forth four men, each carrying a long, curved sword. They stood in silence by the animals, waiting.
Leizuy continued his speech, "No more will we be forced to obey that pig of a leader. Today, we become our own masters."
The crowd of men started chanting, voices echoing in the silent forest.
"Today a new era will arise from the ashes of the old. With me as your undisputed leader, we will rule."
"I'm getting a bad feeling about this," Samson muttered, eyeing the swords with unease.
"Today, from the blood of the Four Beasts, we will awake Omighta Anima. Let the ritual begin."
Simultaneously, the four swords rose.
Author's Note: Okay, sorry it took so long to update. I thank you all for your patience with me. Also, I have something huge planned for Talon and Momo, something you'll all enjoy. In the meantime, please review. The more reviews I get, the faster I'll update. ;)